Windows 10 reinstallation fails - Media on USB drive does not boot

@GeorgeCOR ,

I would very highly recommend that you install Windows 10 the way the Microsoft intended it to be installed. Use the Media Creation Tool to create a USB flash drive for Windows 10 installation. Install the new HDD in the computer (and it's best if that is the only drive installed, besides DVD/CDROMs). Boot the computer from the USB flash drive created with the Media Creation Tool and just install Windows 10 to the new HDD installed in the computer.

Clean Install Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

Then once you have Windows 10 installed on the new drive, you can connect the old HDD either internally in the computer, or via the USB adapter you have to copy files over.

Sure, you can use different commands to do a completely custom, manual install. But Microsoft has provided an easy way for you to do it that ensures the install meets their requirements for future upgrades.

Thank you all for your various comments and suggestions. Please accept my apology for failing to acknowledge your responses before.
I am following up on your various suggestions, and will re-post when I am either stuck or have succeeded in my task. This may take a few more days.
gc

Bree said:

I would approach the problem a different way. While your current HDD is still working, why not make a system image including any data partitions to an external HDD? Then you could swap out the failing drive, put the new one in and restore the image to it. You'd end up with the same system with all your apps and files, but running on a new drive.

Hi @Bree, I understand the appeal of your approach, but was reluctant to follow it as I feared that I would be copying applications that might have become corrupted as a result of my failing HDD. At the end the failing HDD actually failed, and that option was by then gone.

topgundcp said:

@GeorgeCOR
Yes, you can install Windows from the HD. Create a small partition (8GB) on the HD, format as FAT32, set active then extract the content of the ISO to it.

@topgundcp
I tried this but for reasons that still puzzle me, it failed. As best as I can describe it, the BIOS on the machine failed to "see" the new HDD connected to it using the SIIG USB 2.0 to SATA/IDE connector.

NavyLCDR said:

@GeorgeCOR ,
I would very highly recommend that you install Windows 10 the way the Microsoft intended it to be installed. Use the Media Creation Tool to create a USB flash drive for Windows 10 installation. Install the new HDD in the computer (and it's best if that is the only drive installed, besides DVD/CDROMs). Boot the computer from the USB flash drive created with the Media Creation Tool and just install Windows 10 to the new HDD installed in the computer.
Then once you have Windows 10 installed on the new drive, you can connect the old HDD either internally in the computer, or via the USB adapter you have to copy files over.

Thank you @NavyLCDR. I tried all other suggestions, and failed then went back to the "the way the Microsoft intended it to be installed" and things went smoothly. I do have some issues with the new installation but these are outside the scope of this thread.